1399. HELMERS, C. J., CLARK, A., AND ALDEN, R. C. Catalytic Treatment of Synthetic Gasoline. Oil Gas Jour., vol. 47, No. 26, 1948, pp. 86, 89, 91, 92.

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Literature Abstracts

In the synthesis of olefinic gasoline from CO and H₂ with a fluidized Fe-base catalyst, the oxygenated compounds remaining therein must be removed as they have properties undesirable in a motor fuel. Since they are present only in small amounts, their removal does not materially affect the octane rating of the synthetic gasoline, therefore, requires improvement in the rating of the hydrocarbons present. In the case of olefins, this is most readily accomplished by isomerization. The Perco catalytic desulfurization process was investigated in connection with this upgrading of olefinic synthetic gasolines. Briefly this process entails a mild vapor-phase treatment of the gasoline over bauxite catalyst. The gasoline is vaporized and preheated to 700°-800° F., and the superheated vapors are passed through the catalyst bed at 30-50 lb. pressure. The flow rate is 1-3 vol. of gasoline per hour per vol. of catalyst, or approximately 150-450 bbl. of gasoline per ton of catalyst per day. The results show a considerable improvement in the octane number upt o a maximum in the temperature range 700°-750° F. at a constant flow rate of 1.5 vol. gasoline per vol. of catalyst per hr. Doubling the flow rate and increasing the temperature to 850° F. gives about the same octane improvement. It is assumed that the isomerization is primarily a shift of the double bond rather than a branching of the chain. Improvement was noted in the blending value of Perco treated gasoline with polymer gasoline, the gum content, and the storage stability. The oxygenated compounds originally present in the synthetic gasoline appear to be decomposed in passing through the catalyst bed, as is evident from the composition of the gas produced in the treatment.